The federal utility said in a news release Thursday the staff will recommend to the TVA board the purchase of the 968-megawatt Magnolia Combined Cycle Gas Plant near Ashland, Miss. A purchase price was not announced.

The plant is now owned by Kelson Limited Partnership. The three-unit plant has been a source of purchased power for TVA since the plant began operation in 2003. It is connected to the TVA grid.

Magnolia would be TVA’s third combined cycle gas plant, which uses waste heat from the generation process to turn additional turbines to make more electricity.